Garment or ironing press



. 5 .INVENTOR.

' AIT-TORNEYJ" Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE DalyManufacturing Company,

Cincinnati,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 23, 1929, Serial No.357,546

16 Claims.

My 'invention relates to a pressing machine preferably actuated by apneumatic motor in which the cycles of'operation are pneumaticallycontrolled.

Itis the object of my invention to provide a pressing machine in which asafety feature is incorporated in the pneumatic control, which preventsfull fluid pressure power being applied to the pressing head until thehead is substantially in pressing position, and the possibility of anoperator having some part of the body crushed in the press is therebyprevented. In a pneumatic control for a pressing machine having two handcontrols which the operator must grasp, to place full pressing power onthe press, it is possible to prevent that particular operator fromhaving the hands caught under the pressing head, but it frequentlyhappens that an operator from some other press may carelessly place ahand or arm under the head and, if the operator controlling the pressdoes not notice, the careless personis likely to be severely injured.

It is an object of my invention to precludethe possibility of suchinjury by incorporating in the control a safety feature which preventsfull pressing power being applied excepting when the operator has bothhands on the manual controls and when the head has closed to such anextent that no obstruction can remain under the head. Thus,

if there is an obstruction between the pressing members, the fullpressing power or a locking arrangement which will allow the operator toleave the press with the pressing power on, cannot be applied. until thepressing members are substantially closed.

Another object is the provision of afluid pressuremotorinwhich thelinepressure is compounded so that increased fluid pressure above thatsupplied from the fluid pressure source will result. The safety featurenoted is further so arranged that, the increased pressure will notresult until the pressing members are substantially closed, so that eventhough an operator might be pinched or burned the full crushing power ofthe press cannot be applied as long as some obstruction, suchas a partof the body, is between the pressing members.

A further object is the provision of a toggle leverage connection fromthe motor to the pressing head in which the compounding of the leveragedoes not result in greatly increased power trans mission until thepressing head is substantially in pressing position. Further, it will beobserved,

that in the combination of toggle leverage and fluid pressure control, Ihave provided both a mechanical and a pneumatically controlledarrangement which precludes the application of the full pressing poweruntil such close proximity of the pressing members or jaws has beenreached that accidents to the operators of the pressing 5 machines inthe establishment will be extremely unlikely.

The above and other objects to which reference will be made in theensuing disclosure, I accomplish by the combination and arrangement of10 parts of which I have shown a preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the press with parts insection.

Figure 2 is a diagram of the pneumatic control for the press including amotor means under pressure.

The pressing machine is composed of the usual standard or frame I onwhich the buck 2 is sup- 20 ported and with an upright 3 providing apivotal support 4 for the pressing head rocker or press lever 5.Pivotally mounted on the upright 3 I have shown a lever 6 having a camslot 1 therein.

A boss 8 extending from the end of the lever 25 provides an adjustableconnection with the rear end 9 of the pressing head rocker through themedium of the adjustment screw and nut III.

A link arm ll carries on its end a roller M which engages the cam slot7. The arm H is 30 pivoted in the machine frame as indicated at E3 andthe usual bolt and spring conection I4 is employed to cushion thepressing stroke of the toggle leverage connections. A link I5 is pivotedto a boss extending back from the link H as in- 35 dicated at l6.Another link I! is pivoted to the link 15 as indicated at 18. The leverlink l'l is pivoted at I9 in the machine frame and has an extending end20 which connects with the end of the piston rod 2 l ,of the'compoundfluid pres- 40 sure motor which will be hereinafter described.

I have indicated in dotted lines the position of the parts of themechanism in fully open position, the parts being shown with thepressing head in pressing position. It will be noted that I haveprovided a toggle consisting of the link l5 and lever end I'I, one of.the toggle links having an extension 20 operatively connected with thefluid pressure motor and with the other toggle link connected with apivoted lever having a connection by means of the cam slot in the arm 6.Full leverage is not applied through the toggle link connection untilthe pressing members are substantially in closed position.

By carefully planning the cam slot 1 it is 5 also possible to arrangethe safety feature in the pneumatic control so that it will synchronizewith the average transmission arrangement, and so that full compoundedpressure cannot be applied until the position of the parts is such thatthe roller rides over the high spot la in the slot. Then only full powerwill be transmited through the leverage system. Thus a double safetyfeature of the control and the leverage arrangement will make a moreefficient and safer press to operate. Y

The fluid pressure motor is composed of a shell 22 divided by a mediallylocated head 23 which provides an upper cylinder 24 and a lower cylinder25. Within the lower cylinder there is a piston 26 connected with thepistpn rod 2 i, which as noted, is pivotally connected with the link orlever arm 20. Within the upper cylinder 24 I have shown the piston head2i which is connected with a tubular plunger 28, which extends upthrough a packing box 29 forming the upper head of the upper cylinder.The small cylinder 28, thus provided, has a piston 38 therein connectedwith a piston rod 35 which is mounted on the machine frame as indicatedat 32.

The preliminary control which the operator should first operate toinduce the initial movement of the press is indicated at 33. Compressedfluid, such as compressed air, passes thru a valve 34 from a supply line35 when the handle 33 is depressed and thru pipe 36, 38 and tubularpiston rod 3| into the telescoping cylinder 28. The fluid pressure thenexpands between the pistons 21 and 30 and forces the double cylinder 22,25 downwardly a short distance thereby starting the press to closeinasmuch as the head of cylinder 28 will bear against the top ofcylinder 22 and move the latter downwardly.

Another preliminary control which thus requires both the hands of theoperator is indicated at 39, and when this control is depressed,compressed air passes from the pipe 4|] through the intake 'valve-4| andpipe 4|a to the cylinder port G2, which admits the compressed air to thelower cylinder 25. If, during the initial operation of the twopreliminary controls, there is some 0bstruction under the head, theroller l2 will not have passed over the high point la in the cam slot I,and the pressure in the small upper cylinder 28 will not be enough toclose the press jaws with sufiicient force to injure an operator orbystander.

After releasing the preliminary control 33, the operator then liftsupwardly on a control manual 43 which admits air through an intake valve44 from the supply pipe 35, 45 to the pipe 46, which extends to the port41 in the upper cylinder 24. As the compressed air enters the cylinder24 it presses against the piston 27! thereby compressing the air withinthe small upper cylinder. Due to the difference in area of the surfaceof the piston 21 and the piston 30, the air within the small uppercylinder above the piston 3|] is greatly compressed so that the backpressure passes through the conduits 38 and 49. A check valve 5|! in thepipe 36 prevents the now highly compressed air from leaking back throughthe valve 34.

Automatic pressure control diaphragms 5| and 52, which are so set thatthe supply pressure will not cause them to expand, are then expanded andthe plungers 53 and 54 are extended thereby locking the valves 4| and 44open with the fluid pressure applied to both cylinders and the pressingmembers of the press. To release the pressure from the cylinders, avalve 55 is propenance vided with a control 56, which will preferably beone of remote control so that the operator may release the pressure onthe press while passing from another press. When the valve 55 is openedthe air within the small upper cylinder 28 is evacuated through the pipe5?. The automatic pressure diaphragms 5| and 52 are then collapsed bythe springs 58 and 59 therein, and the air from the upper and lowercylinders is evacu ated through the valves 53 and ti and exhaust ports62 and Substantially full pressing power may be applied to the press bymovement on the controls 39 and 43 only. In such a method of operationhowever, the locking feature induced by the comi:

pounding of the pressure within the cylinder 28 will not be present.

The pressure actuated diaphragm or means 5| and 52 are held to expandedor operated'position by reason of the entrapped motive fluid pressure inthe lines 33, 48 and 49 being highly compressed by upward movement ofthe piston 27. In this way, the intake valves 44 and 4| are locked orheld open to maintain line pressure in the two cylinders 24 and 25 afterthe operator releases the two hand control means 39 and 43, and thus thepress head is held resiliently closed on the buck. The operator maytherefore close the press under light or initial pressure by opening theone hand valve 34 which sends air pressure to the small-bore cylinder 23having sufficient power to swing the press lever 5 toward closed orlightly closed position but not sufficient power to produce final jawpressure on the work or injure an operator.

After initial closing and light ironing or pressing contact is attained,the operator is compelled to then employ both hands and actuate the twohand manuals 39 and 43 if it is desired to carry out final high jawcompression. Such an arrangement leaves one hand of the operator free tocomplete the lay of the work and smooth out wrinkles noticed at the lastmoment.

The motor means is also a feature of the invention and comprises thetriple fluid pressure motors, 25, 26, as well as 24, 21, and 28, 313.These motors are in axial alignment insofar as the illustrated exampleof the invention is concerned. It is also noted that the multiple ortriple motor means are carried between two piston connecting rods 2| and3| and hence the cylinders move or float between the pivot or supportmeans 20 and 32.

While I have shown but one arrangement of my invention, it will beapparent that other modifications in structure and pneumatic control having similar safety features will occur to others Without departing fromthe inventive principle involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:--

1. A garment or ironing press having coacting jaws, two high power fluidpressure motors operatively connected with one jaw to close the pressand produce jaw compression, a pressure line having an intake valve andcontrol manual in communication with each motor and thus requiring theuse of both hands to start both motors, a third fluid pressure motor oflow power operatively connected with the press jaw to initially operatethe press and preliminarily move the jaw toward the work, the motorsbeing connected with each other so that the movement of each motor isadded to the movement of the other motors, and a pressure line having anintake valve and control manual in communication with the third fluidpressure motor.

2. A garment or ironing press having coacting jaws, two fluid pressuremotors operatively connected with one jaw to close the press and producejaw compression, a pressure line having an intake valve and controlmanual in communication with each-motor and thus requiring the use ofboth hands to start both motors, a third fluid pressure motor of lowpower operatively connected with the press jaw to initially operate thepress and preliminarily move the jaw toward the work, a pressure linehaving an intake valve and control manual in communication with thethird fluid pressure motor, and said third motor comprising a piston andcylinder means telescopically carried within one of the other motors.

, 3. A garment or ironing press having coacting jaws, two fluid pressuremotors operatively connected with one jaw to closethe press and producejaw compression, a pressure line having an intake valve andcontrol'manual in communication with each motor and thus requiring theuse of both hands to start both motors, a third fluid pressure motor oflow power operatively connected with the press jaw to initiallyoperate'the press and preliminarily move the jaw toward the work, apressure line having an intake valve and control manual in communicationwith the third fluid pressure motor, said third motor comprising apiston and cylinder means telescopically carried within one of the othermotors; and said three motors being disposed in axial alignmentincluding spaced and oppositely disposed piston rods with the threecylinder means carried between the piston rodsand adapted to move uponsaid piston rods. 1

4. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, motor means to operate the press including a piston rod attachedto the frame, another piston rod operatively connected to one of thepress jaws, a series of cylinders provided with pistons operativelydisposed on the two piston rods so that the movement of each motor isadded to the movement of the other motors, including, 'one cylinder ofsmaller bore than the others, a pressure feed line having an inlet valveand control manual in communication with each cylinder, pressureoperated means to hold the intake valves for the motor means other thanthe smallerbore cylinder open to maintain line pressure on the motormeans, and a pressure connection between the pressure operated means andthe small bore cylinder.

5. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, motor means to operate the press including a piston rod attachedto the frame, another piston rod operatively connected-to one-of thepress jaws, the two piston rods being spaced apart and axially disposed,a piston on the adjacent ends of eachpiston rod, cylinder means slidablycarried on the piston rods, the pistons being operable therein, a motivefluid feed line including an inlet valve with acontrol manual thereforin communication with the. cylinder means, pressure actuated means tohold the intake valve open to maintain line pressure on the motor meansafter an operator has released the control manual, means to entrapmotive fluid in the cylinder means and to compress same upon theoperation of the motor means, and a connection between the pressureactuated means and the means to entrap and compress the motive fluid.

6. A garment or ironing'press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, a cylinder having a dividing wall forming two cylinders in axialalignment, a pair of inlet ports in the dividing wall and leading totherespective cylinders, a piston and connecting rodin each cylinder, apressure feed line connected with. each port, an inlet valve and controlmanual in each feed line, one piston and connecting rod beingoperatively connected with a press jaw and the other with the frame, oneof the piston rods being tubular to form a cylinder and means therein tocompress motive fluid in this cylinder when pressure is admitted to theother two cylinders, and means operated by the compressed motive fluidto hold the intake valves open after an operator releases the controlmanuals.

7. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, a high power pressure motor means operatively connected with oneof the jaws to close the press and produce final high jaw compression, asmall bore cylinder and piston means operated by the motor means tocompress a motive fluid, and means operated by the compressed motivefluid causing the high power motor means to be held in its operatedposition to hold the press closed.

8. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, a high power pressure motor means operatively connected with oneof the jaws to close the press and produce final high jaw compression, asmall bore cylinder and piston means telescopically mounted within thehigh pressure motor means and including a tubu- .lar piston rod to admitmotive fluid to the small bore cylinder, a check valve to prevent theescape of motive fluid from the small bore cylinder, the high powermotor means actuating the small bore cylinder and piston to compress themotive fluid therein upon pressure fluid being admitted to the highpower motor means, and means operated by the compressed motive fluidcausing the high power motor to be held in its operated position to holdthe press closed.

9. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, a low power fluid pressure cylinder motor operatively connectedwith one of the jaws to move same toward closed position, and a doublecylinder fluid pressure motor operatively connected with the same jaw toforce it to final compression, pressure feed lines to all cylinders, thelow power and double cylinder motors being operatively connected so thatthe low power motor is operated asa compressor and causes the same tocompress the motive fluid therein, a two hand safety control valve meansin the pressure feed lines connected to the double cylinder motor, andmeans operated by the compressed motive fluid in the low power motor'tohold open the two hand valve means.

10. A garment or ironing press comprising oojaws, two fluid pressuremotors operatively con nected with one jaw to produce jaw compression, apressure line having an intake valve with control manual incommunication with each motor thereby requiring the use of both hands tostart both motors, a third fluid pressure motor of low power operativelyconnected with the press jaw and with one of the aforesaid motors toinitially operate the press and preliminarily move the jaw toward thework while the two motors aforesaid remain deenergized, the motors beingconnected in series with each other so that the movement of each motoris added to the movement of the other motors, and a pressure-line havingan intake valve with a single control manual in communication with thethird fluid pressure motor.

12. A garment or'ironing press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, a high powered motor operatively connected with one of the jaws toclose the press and produce final high jaw compression, a two handcontrol for the high powered motor, a small bore cylinder and pistonmeans operated by the high powered motor means to compress a motivefluid, and pressure responsive means operated by the compressed motivefluid and operatively connected with the two hand control to hold thetwo hand control in its operated position to hold the press closed afteran operator lets go of the two hand control.

13. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coasting pressjaws, a high power motor operatively connected with one of the jaws toclose the press and produce final high jaw compression,

a low power motor having a small bore cylinderand piston meanstelescopically mounted within the high power motor and including atubular piston rod to admit motive fluid to the small bore cylinder, apressure supply line having a control valve to energize the low powermotor to close the press, means to prevent the escape of motive fluidfrom the small bore cylinder after said fluid has actuated the lowerpower motor, the pressure applied to the high power motor causing thelow power motor to act as a compressor to compress the motive fluidtherein, and means operated by the compressed motive fluid to cause thehigh power motor to be held in its operated position to maintain thepress closed.

14. A garment or ironing press comprising a menace frame, coacting pressjaws, a triple piston and cylinder motor means operatively connected toone of the press jaws, a piston rod connected to the frame, the motormeans comprising a series arrangement of floating cylinders in axialalignment and carried on the piston rod as one end of the seriesarrangement, one cylinder and piston. being smaller in bore to lightlyclose the press, the other cylinders being larger in bore to produce jawcompression, and two hand control means including a valve for each ofthe said other cylinders.

15. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coating pressjaws,'a low power fluid pressure motor operatively connected with one ofthe jaws to move the same toward closed position, and a fluid pressuremotor means operatively connected with the same jaw to force it to finalposition, a pressure feed line connected to the motor and the motormeans, means operatively connecting the low power motor with the motormeans so that the direction of movement of the movable part of the lowpower motor is reversed upon fluid being admitted to the motor meansthereby compressing the fluid in the low power motor, valve means in thepressure feed lines to the motor means, and means operated by thecompressed motive fluid generated in the low power motor to hold openthe valve means.

16. A garment or ironing press comprising a frame and coacting pressjaws, a cylinder means housing a plurality of motor units each of whichincludes a piston, a piston rod projecting from one end of the cylindermeans and operatively connected with one of the jaws, a piston rod ofanother motor unit projecting from the other end of the cylinder meansand mounted on the frame, the last piston rod being provided with apressure inlet passage leading to the pressure side of the pistoncarried thereby, a pressure feed line connected with the inlet passageand having a control valve, and a pressure feed line connected withanother unit of the cylinder means and including an inlet valve andcontrol manual therefor.

JOSEPH P. DALY.

